The Old Year and the New
This poem explores the contrast between the passing of time and the cyclical nature of life. The speaker reflects on the end of one year and the beginning of another, highlighting the inevitability of change and the futility of trying to hold onto the past. The poem also touches on themes of nostalgia, loss, and the human experience of struggling to come to terms with the passage of time.
By James Whitcomb Riley · First published 1886 · Genre: Poetry, Lyrical, Reflective · 300 words
First lines
I. As one in sorrow looks upon The dead face of a loyal friend, By the dim light of New Year's dawn I saw the Old Year end.
Upon the pallid features lay The dear old smile -- so warm and bright Ere thus its cheer had died away In ashes of delight.
The hands that I had learned to love With strength of passion half divine, Were folded now, all heedless of The emptiness of mine.
The eyes that once had shed their bright Sweet looks like sunshine, now were dull, And ever lidded from the light That made them beautiful.
What this Textopian page supports
The Old Year and the New is listed on Textopian as a poem by James Whitcomb Riley, dated 1886 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: James Whitcomb Riley
- Date: 1886 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Lyrical, Reflective, Melancholic, Seasonal
- Length: 300 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with stanzas and rhyming lines, characteristic of poetry.
- Lyrical — The text expresses personal emotions and reflections, typical of lyrical poetry.
- Reflective — The themes involve introspection and contemplation of time and change.
- Melancholic — The tone is sorrowful and mournful, focusing on loss and longing.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · New Year's Theme · Reflection · Nostalgia · Seasonal · Winter · Hope · Renewal · Change · Time